With Boise State leaving the WAC, things have definitely opened up for the other teams in this conference. Of course, what we have to remember most about last season is that it wasn’t the boys from the Blue Turf that won the conference: the Nevada Wolf Pack (Current WAC Odds: 2.15 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) did. Sure, Nevada has its own problems this year replacing a stud signal caller in Colin Kaepernick, who felt like he was playing in Reno for at least seven years, and the likes of Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott are gone from the backfield, but Head Coach Chris Ault almost always fields a competent side. After dealing with four straight hellacious road games to start off the season (including a trip to Boise), Nevada plays six of its last eight games at home with those two roadies at New Mexico State and Utah State. There’s no excuse for the Wolf Pack not to win this conference.

Head Coach Pat Hill always has his Fresno State Bulldogs (2011 WAC Lines: 3.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) ready to take on anyone in the country, and this season, he gets to face Cal, Nebraska, Ole Miss, and Boise State out of conference play. The problem here is that this team just plays too many games on the road (seven to be exact), and it’s stuck with the extra road game in conference this year. Games at Nevada, Idaho, and Hawaii won’t be fun to say the least, and unless Hill’s defense can rank a whole heck of a lot better than No. 83 in the nation in scoring like it did last year, the Dogs are in trouble.

The media has selected the Hawaii Warriors (Current WAC Odds: 2.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) as the favorites for the WAC this year, but we just aren’t so sure that it is justified. WRs Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares were both 1,500+ yard receivers a year ago, and RB Alex Green rumbled for nearly 1,200 yards and accounted for 19 scores. QB Bryant Moniz is back in the saddle, and he is surely going to throw for over 5,000 yards once again this year, but this Hawaii defense is just woeful at times. Parlay all of that with the newcomers that have to slot in on offense and the road trips to Nevada, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, and San Jose State, and the makings are there for a 5-2 or 4-3 mark in conference play.

2011 Odds To Win The WAC @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/28/11):
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Nevada Wolf Pack 2.15 to 1
Hawaii Warriors 2.50 to 1
Fresno State Bulldogs 3.50 to 1
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 7 to 1
Idaho Vandals 17.50 to 1
San Jose State Spartans 19 to 1
Utah State Aggies 22 to 1
New Mexico State Aggies 36 to 1

The Sun Belt is one of the more open conferences in America this year, but the teams in this division are definitely up and coming. This is no longer just the doormat for the rest of college football. Case in point: The Florida International Golden Panthers (Current Sun Belt Odds: 2.40 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). FIU didn’t exactly come out of nowhere last season, but it did end up winning the conference crown and winning its bowl game against Toledo. Getting both Troy and Florida Atlantic at home this year is a big plus, but there are definitely some challenges coming if this offense can’t put up anywhere near the 28.8 points per game that it did a year ago.

You know that the perennial powers of the Sun Belt, the Troy Trojans (2011 Sun Belt Lines: 2.40 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) are bound and determined to get their conference title back this season, especially after losing it at home against FIU in bad form last season. Even though WR Jerrel Jernigan has moved on to the next level, QB Corey Robinson still has the potential to be the best player in this conference. He threw for 3,726 yards as a true freshman, and he should easily eclipse the 4,000 yard barrier this year in this offense as long as he stays healthy.

The team to watch out for as the up and coming bunch is the third favorite in the conference, the Arkansas State Red Wolves (Current Sun Belt Odds: 6.25 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). Both FIU and Troy are paying visits to Jonesboro this year, and that bodes well for a team which was a lot better than its 4-8 record indicated last season. ASU lost five games by a TD or fewer last season, and its 52-26 loss at eventual National Champions Auburn Tigers turned out to look not all that bad, all things considered. QB Ryan Aplin was good for right at 30.0 PPG last season, but the key for the Red Wolves will be establishing a defense after allowing a miserable 440.5 YPG on the campaign in 2010.

2011 Odds To Win The Sun Belt @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/28/11):
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Florida International Golden Panthers 2.40 to 1
Troy Trojans 2.40 to 1
Arkansas State Red Wolves 6.25 to 1
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 6.75 to 1
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 8.50 to 1
North Texas Mean Green 11 to 1
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 15 to 1
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 16 to 1
Florida Atlantic Owls 19 to 1

Last season, the Florida State Seminoles looked completely outclassed on the road against the Oklahoma Sooners. This year, with both teams starting off ranked in the Top 5 of the country, the Noles will look to exact some revenge for what might amount to be the start of a National Championship season for both.

Oklahoma @ Florida State Picks & Info
Oklahoma Sooners @ Florida State Game Date: Saturday, September 17, 2011
Oklahoma @ FSU Location: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Oklahoma @ Florida State Game Line: Florida State Seminoles +2

The Sooners have some high hopes this season after a few years of relative disappointment after the injuries and departure of QB Sam Bradford. However, it wasn’t the offense that was the problem last year. QB Landry Jones tore apart defenses to the tune of over 4,700 yards, and he very well could be in for even better numbers this year with more emphasis coming on the passing game. WR Ryan Broyles had a field day in this fixture last year, going for 124 yards and a score on a dozen receptions. The defense was an issue for the most part, but not against FSU. This unit held the Noles down to just 345 total yards, a true accomplishment after racking up 500 yards of offense.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida State Seminoles Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Oklahoma 47 – Florida State 17
2001: Oklahoma 13 – Florida State 2 (National Championship Game)

FSU has never really had any luck against the Sooners, getting beaten twice relatively badly. Now, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher is going to hope that QB EJ Manuel has the goods to get the job done this year in what could amount to be the biggest game that the Garnet and Gold have had in quite some time. The defense picked up the slack over the back half of the season until the ACC Championship Game, and Fisher knows that this unit is going to be the key at home to stopping the Sooners’ mighty attack. Look for DB Greg Reid, who had a terrible game last year, to have a significantly better showing. He could be the difference maker in this one.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Florida State Seminoles Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/26/11):
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Oklahoma Sooners (-2) @ Florida State Seminoles

Our US Open predictions and free picks for the men’s bracket continue this week, as the US Open betting action gets set to get underway next week in Flushing, NY!

2011 US Open Odds, Picks & Info
2011 US Open Dates: Monday, August 29 – Sunday, September 11
2011 US Open Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York
2011 US Open Favorite: Novak Djokovic (+170)
Defending US Open Ladies Champion: Rafael Nadal
2011 US Open TV Coverage – Network: Tennis Network, NBC

With just two losses to his credit for the entire year, Novak Djokovic (Current US Open Odds: 1.70 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) is clear the man to watch out for over the course of the next two weeks. Djokovic has played in this final twice in his career, but he has never taken home the coveted trophy. This has been a banner year for the Serb, who has captured the world’s No. 1 ranking and has already won a pair of majors (Australian Open and Wimbledon). Often times he and the fourth favorite, Andy Murray end up taking a back seat here in Flushing, and there is a decent chance that the exact same thing could happen this time around.

And why is that? Because the defending champion of this event, Rafael Nadal (US Open Lines: 4.45 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) isn’t going to want to get off of his throne. Rafa already has a Grand Slam title as well this year to his mantle, taking care of the French Open crown once again on the clay courts. However, hard surfaces have always given the Spaniard trouble, probably due to the fact that he doesn’t have the biggest serve in the world and that his best asset is his return game. Still, Nadal won’t go down without a fight in this one, and he is going to be the man of the hour to watch through the full fortnight, knowing that no one should touch him until at least the quarters at best.

List Of Past Ladies US Open Champions (Since 2000)
2010 US Open Winner: Rafael Nadal
2009 US Open Winner: Juan Martin Del Potro
2008 US Open Winner: Roger Federer
2007 US Open Winner: Roger Federer
2006 US Open Winner: Roger Federer
2005 US Open Winner: Roger Federer
2004 US Open Winner: Roger Federer
2003 US Open Winner: Andy Roddick
2002 US Open Winner: Pete Sampras
2001 US Open Winner: Leyton Hewitt
2000 US Open Winner: Marat Safin

As always though, we can’t forget about the five-time champ of this event, Roger Federer (Odds to Win the US Open: 6.15 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). It’s amazing to think that Federer hasn’t won a major this year, and it’s also odd to think that he is the fourth choice of the tennis oddsmakers this year at the tournament that he has historically dominated. With six finals appearances and five wins, no one since the great Pete Sampras has played like this at this tournament. Whether Federer has anything left in the tank or not is a totally different question.

US Open Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/26/11):
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Novak Djokovic 1.70 to 1
Rafael Nadal 4.45 to 1
Andy Murray 5.15 to 1
Roger Federer 6.15 to 1
Juan Martin Del Potro 22 to 1
Jo Wilfried Tsonga 38 to 1
Mardy Fish 40 to 1
Robin Soderling 50 to 1
Tomas Berdych 75 to 1
Andy Roddick 80 to 1
Gael Monfils 225 to 1
John Isner 255 to 1
David Ferrer 315 to 1
Bernard Tomic 375 to 1
Ernests Gulbis 375 to 1
Fernando Verdasco 400 to 1
Marin Cilic 425 to 1
Richard Gasquet 500 to 1
Gilles Simon 525 to 1
Stanislas Wawrinka 550 to 1
Nikolay Davydenko 600 to 1
David Nalbandian 750 to 1
Alexandr Dolgopolov 750 to 1
Mikhail Youzhny 925 to 1
Jurgen Melzer 1,000 to 1
Nicolas Almagro 1,000 to 1
Viktor Troicki 1,000 to 1
Florian Mayer 1,000 to 1
Juan Ignacio Chela 1,000 to 1
Marco Baghdatis 1,000 to 1
Michael Llodra 1,000 to 1
Janko Tipsarevic 1,000 to 1
Feliciano Lopez 1,000 to 1
Ivan Ljubicic 1,000 to 1
Thomaz Bellucci 1,000 to 1
Kevin Anderson 1,000 to 1
Andreas Seppi 1,000 to 1
Guillermo Garcia Lopez 1,000 to 1
Fabio Fognini 1,000 to 1
Xavier Malisse 1,000 to 1
Albert Montanes 1,000 to 1
Ivan Dodig 1,000 to 1
Philipp Kohlschreiber 1,000 to 1
Juan Monaco 1,000 to 1
Sergiy Stakohvsky 1,000 to 1
Andrey Golubev 1,000 to 1
Dmitry Tursunov 1,000 to 1
Adrian Mannarino 1,000 to 1
Kei Nishikori 1,000 to 1
Ryan Harrison 1,000 to 1
Somdev Devvarman 1,000 to 1
Lukasz Kubot 1,000 to 1
Robby Ginepri 1,000 to 1
Steve Johnson 1,000 to 1
Jack Sock 1,000 to 1
Donald Young 1,000 to 1
Julien Benneteau 1,000 to 1
Bobby Reynolds 1,000 to 1
Pere Riba 1,000 to 1
Carlos Berlocq 1,000 to 1
Potito Starace 1,000 to 1
Michael Berrer 1,000 to 1
Fredrico il 1,000 to 1
Flavio Cipolla 1,000 to 1
Ivo Karlovic 1,000 to 1
Fernando Gonzalez 1,000 to 1
Horacio Zeballos 1,000 to 1
Philipp Petzschner 1,000 to 1
Albert Ramos 1,000 to 1
Marcel Granollers 1,000 to 1
Mikhail Kukushkin 1,000 to 1
Pablo Andujar 1,000 to 1
Juan Carlos Ferrero 1,000 to 1
Grigor Dimitrov 1,000 to 1
Santiago Giraldo 1,000 to 1
Dudi Sela 1,000 to 1
Radek Stepanek 1,000 to 1
Tommy Haas 1,000 to 1
Alejandro Falla 1,000 to 1
Yen Hsun Lu 1,000 to 1
Andreas Haider Maurer 1,000 to 1
Jarkko Nieminen 1,000 to 1
Victor Hanescu 1,000 to 1
Thiemo De Bakker 1,000 to 1
Tobias Kamke 1,000 to 1
Alex Bogomolov Jr 1,000 to 1
Filippo Volandri 1,000 to 1
Diego Junquiera 1,000 to 1
Karol Beck 1,000 to 1
Daniel Gimeno Traver 1,000 to 1
Ricardo Mello 1,000 to 1
Maximo Gonzalez 1,000 to 1
Tatsuma Ito 1,000 to 1
Lukas Rosol 1,000 to 1
Rui Machado 1,000 to 1
Robin Haase 1,000 to 1
Igor Andreev 1,000 to 1
James Blake 1,000 to 1
Oliver Rochus 1,000 to 1
Michael Russell 1,000 to 1
Marc Gicquel 1,000 to 1
Denis Istomin 1,000 to 1
Ryan Sweeting 1,000 to 1
Edouard Roger Vasselin 1,000 to 1
Gilles Muller 1,000 to 1
Matthias Bachinger 1,000 to 1
Igor Kunitsyn 1,000 to 1
Eric Prodon 1,000 to 1
Blaz Kavcic 1,000 to 1
Nicolas Mahut 1,000 to 1

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Irwin Tools Night Race picks!

2011 Irwin Tools Night Race Odds, Picks & Info
2011 Irwin Tools Night Race Date: Saturday, August 27th, 2011
2011 Irwin Tools Night Race Green Flag Time: 7:46 ET
2011 Irwin Tools Night Race Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN
2011 Irwin Tools Night Race Favorite: Kyle Busch (+300)
Defending Irwin Tools Night Race Champion: Kyle Busch
2011 Irwin Tools Night Race TV Coverage – Network: ABC

When you look at the NASCAR betting odds in this one, there is absolutely no choice but to look long and hard at Kyle Busch (Odds to Win the Irwin Tools Night Race: 3 to 1 at JustBet Sportsbook). Busch might not have a real license any longer because of his tiny little speeding ticket, but he definitely can still run here at Bristol, a track that he has dominated in his career. If he were to take the checkered flag in this one, it would be the fourth time in five races at Bristol that he won, including earlier this year at the Jeff Byrd 500. Busch has just really taken over at short tracks in his career, winning eight times. He’s the NASCAR points leader right now, and he is going to want to claim yet another win on the season to give him some bonus points heading into the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Carl Edwards (Current Irwin Tools Night Race Odds: 8.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) is due to kick into gear one of these moments, and this might be the perfect race for him to do just that. The No. 99 Ford has won the Irwin Tools Night Race twice in 2007 and 2008, and he really could use a ‘W’ to get back in the saddle before NASCAR’s version of the playoffs begin. Edwards still only has one win this year, but his problems really didn’t begin until a few months ago when he started to lose what was once a massive lead in the points chase. Now, he’s in fourth place, and though he isn’t in any danger whatsoever of missing the postseason, he really would love to get some ‘mo going again.

List Of Past Irwin Tools Night Race Champions (Since 2000)
2010 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Kyle Busch
2009 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Kyle Busch
2008 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Carl Edwards
2007 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Carl Edwards
2006 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Matt Kenseth
2005 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Matt Kenseth
2004 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2003 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Kurt Busch
2002 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Jeff Gordon
2001 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Tony Stewart
2000 Irwin Tools Night Race Winner: Rusty Wallace

There aren’t many races that Chevrolets have performed poorly in, and the last time a Chevy found its way to the winner’s circle here at Bristol in the night race, it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Irwin Tools Night Race Lines: 33 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) that was getting the job done. It’s clear that Little E isn’t a driver who is winning all that much… if at all anymore… but this is a nice spot for him if he wants to notch his spot in NASCAR’s version of the postseason. Falling out of the Top 10 will knock him out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but a win in any of these last few races would almost certainly ensure his safety. Don’t be surprised if Earnhardt Jr. is in the thick of things at the end of this one.

Irwin Tools Night Race Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/24/11):
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Kyle Busch 2.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 6.50 to 1
Carl Edwards 8.50 to 1
Kurt Busch 11 to 1
Denny Hamlin 13 to 1
Kevin Harvick 13 to 1
Jeff Gordon 13 to 1
Brad Keselowski 13 to 1
Matt Kenseth 16.50 to 1
Tony Stewart 16.50 to 1
Greg Biffle 22 to 1
Clint Bowyer 27 to 1
Kasey Kahne 33 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 33 to 1
Ryan Newman 33 to 1
Mark Martin 33 to 1
Joey Logano 45 to 1
Jeff Burton 45 to 1
Paul Menard 55 to 1
David Reutimann 55 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 55 to 1
David Ragan 55 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 66 to 1

Irwin Tools Night Race Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 8/25/11):
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Kyle Busch 3 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 6 to 1
Carl Edwards 8 to 1
Kurt Busch 10 to 1
Denny Hamlin 12 to 1
Kevin Harvick 12 to 1
Jeff Gordon 12 to 1
Matt Kenseth 15 to 1
Tony Stewart 15 to 1
Greg Biffle 20 to 1
Brad Keselowski 20 to 1
Clint Bowyer 25 to 1
Kasey Kahne 30 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 30 to 1
Ryan Newman 30 to 1
Mark Martin 30 to 1
Joey Logano 40 to 1
Jeff Burton 40 to 1
Paul Menard 50 to 1
David Reutimann 50 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 50 to 1
David Ragan 50 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 60 to 1
Field 25 to 1

The SEC is always one of the roughest conferences to try to handicap, as the National Champions usually end up coming from this conference. This year, could we be saying the same thing? The favorites to take down the conference crown are the Alabama Crimson Tide (Current SEC Odds: 2.05 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). The Tide are losing a ton from last year’s offense, but when you look past the fact that QB Greg McIlroy, WR Julio Jones, and RB Mark Ingram are gone, you see that there is still a heck of a lot of talent coming back for Head Coach Nick Saban. It’s not like Saban hasn’t been able to figure out how to recruit in the past and then get the most out of what he brought into town. QB AJ McCarron should be fine, and so should the Alabama ‘D’. The biggest problem game on the slate is at home, a date with LSU.

Speaking of the LSU Tigers (2011 SEC Lines: 4.75 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook), they’re the next in a hoard of teams in the conference that are lined in the +475ish range to win this conference crown. We know that it is likely going to take a win against Alabama on the road to win the SEC, something that definitely won’t come easily. We’ll find out quite a bit right away this year when the Bayou Bengals take on the Oregon Ducks at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, and it’ll be clear if QB Jordan Jefferson and company can’t keep up with the Quack Attack, they won’t be able to win this conference either.

The team that really could be there for the watching this season is the Georgia Bulldogs (Current SEC Odds: 4.75 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). We don’t really think that Head Coach Mark Richt and company have assembled the best team in the SEC East this season, but we don’t think that there is another team out there that can say that they have as easy of a road as UGA does. This is the year that the team gets the extra conference home game thanks to the fact that the annual Cocktail Party against Florida was originally slated as a road game, and to top it all off, both Alabama and LSU are dodged on the slate. Whereas South Carolina, another one of the favorites in the SEC East doesn’t get a real good look at some heavy duty competition until these two teams meet “Between the Hedges” in Week 2, Georgia gets to start off with a stern test against Boise State. With a lot on the line for Richt and the growth of QB Aaron Murray expected in his sophomore season, we wouldn’t be shocked to see the Dawgs right there when it’s said and done with playing for the SEC title.

2011 Odds To Win The SEC @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/24/11):
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Alabama Crimson Tide 2.05 to 1
Florida Gators 4.60 to 1
Georgia Bulldogs 4.75 to 1
LSU Tigers 4.75 to 1
South Carolina Gamecocks 6.25 to 1
Arkansas Razorbacks 17.50 to 1
Mississippi State Bulldogs 22 to 1
Tennessee Volunteers 22 to 1
Auburn Tigers 37 to 1
Kentucky Wildcats 85 to 1
Mississippi Rebels 85 to 1
Vanderbilt Commodores 185 to 1

2011 Odds To Win The SEC East Division @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/24/11):
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Georgia Bulldogs 1.80 to 1
Florida Gators 1.90 to 1
South Carolina Gamecocks 2 to 1
Tennessee Volunteers 9 to 1
Kentucky Wildcats 33 to 1
Vanderbilt Commodores 75 to 1

2011 Odds To Win The SEC West Division @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/24/11):
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Alabama Crimson Tide 1 to 1.40
LSU Tigers 2.75 to 1
Arkansas Razorbacks 9.15 to 1
Mississippi State Bulldogs 13 to 1
Auburn Tigers 18 to 1
Mississippi Rebels 33 to 1

We’re down to the point that it is awfully hard to pick which games are better than one another, but in this Top 5 showdown, the LSU Tigers and Oregon Ducks will meet, not just for conference bragging rights, but in a game that could be an early elimination game from BCS National Championship contention.

LSU Tigers @ Oregon Ducks Picks & Info
LSU Tigers @ Oregon Ducks Date: Saturday, September 3rd, 8:00 ET
LSU Tigers @ Oregon Ducks Location: Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
LSU Tigers @ Oregon Ducks Spread: Oregon Ducks pk

This is going to be the toughest test of the year for the LSU offense and the LSU defense. No, the Oregon defense isn’t the greatest on the planet, but it definitely is a unit that has an easier job than most thanks to this offense. QB Jordan Jefferson really hasn’t played all that well in his career, but in this case, he knows that he is probably going to have to account for at least three or four TDs for his team to even have a shot. Sure, the Bayou Bengals will have the advantage of having to travel just a few hours instead of halfway across the country to get to this one, but this should be a fairly bi-partisan crowd. The only advantage comes on the defensive side of the ball, where Head Coach Les Miles has been working all Spring and Summer long trying to figure out how to slow down what the Ducks are going to be bringing their way in this primetime showdown.

LSU Tigers @ Oregon Ducks Past Games (Since 1996)
None

Oregon, on the other hand, is going to try to make sure that it doesn’t end up getting into the same situation in this game that it did the last time that it played a team from the SEC West. The Auburn Tigers were able to relatively silence this potent offense, but we have to remember that that came after a long, long layoff thanks to the time lapse between the last game of the regular season and the BCS National Championship Game. One might think that the time off might be an issue this year as well, but QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James were off and running last season at the outset, and we see no reason why that can’t continue this year, starting off in less than two weeks’ time against the high flying LSU defense.

LSU Tigers @ Oregon Ducks Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/24/11):
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LSU Tigers (pk) @ Oregon Ducks